White BaneberryActaea pachypoda

Other common names:
Doll's EyesFrench names:
Actée à gros pédicellesFamily: Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae)Group: BaneberriesDistinctive features:
Shiny china-white berries with a large conspicuous dot on the end of each one. Compound leaf.Similar species:  Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra) - Berries usually red, sometimes white, with a tiny dot at the end of each one. Berries on thin stalks. Flower racemes about as tall as wide. Leaves more dissected.Flowers: Summer; White; Indistinguishable parts (petals); Small, white. In a cluster that is taller than it is wide. Spring.Leaves: Compound, Toothed; Alternate, compound, toothed. Less dissected than Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra).Height:
30-60 cm (11-23 in)Fruit/Seeds:
China-white berries with a conspicuous black dot at the end of each one.Habitat: Forests; Forests.Grows in Sun/Shade:
ShadeLifespan:
Perennial. Uses:
The berries are poisonous. As few as 5 or 6 of them can make you seriously ill. More can cause death.
Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 424 Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 54 ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 350 Native/Non-native:
NativeStatus:
Common.
Photographs:
109 photographs available, of which 15 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page

White Baneberry flowers. Note that the flower raceme is taller than wide. This is generally true for White Baneberry.
Red Baneberry flower racemes are generally as wide as they are tall.

The poisonous berries. This shows how this plant got its alternate common name of Doll's Eyes.
Personally, I don't think there's much danger of anyone eating these berries - they're almost creepy looking.

Closer view of the berries. Note the berries are on rather thick stalks.

Unripe berries, not yet white.

Mature berries. Note the conspicuous dot at the end of each one. This is unique. No other plant in Ontario has berries like this (except Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra)).
The berries are poisonous.

Berries just starting to form.

Flower buds in early spring.

Flowers just starting to open.

A fwe White Baneberry plants in the woods.

A photo of the whole plant.
Note the compound leaves, with toothed leaflets.
Red Baneberry (Actaea rubra) berries are sometimes white, making identification of these two plants difficult for novices.
White Baneberry berries are held on thick stalks, and have a large conspicuous dot at the end of each one.
Red Baneberry berries are held on thin stalks and have a tiny dot at the end of each one.